Sophomore guard Kendal Robinson attempts a layup during a game against Abilene Christian University on March 13 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Robinson scored seven points.
LAS VEGAS — UTA women’s basketball (12-21) dropped the Western Athletic Conference tournament semifinals 70-50 against No. 2 seed Abilene Christian University (23-9) Friday at Orleans Arena.
After finishing the final game of the 2025-26 season, head coach Shereka Wright reflected with teary eyes. Wright said she does what she does because of how proud she is of her players for getting to where they are on and off the court.
“I love what I do because it’s about mentorship, it’s not one certain thing in particular,” Wright said. “I sit here because I love what I do. It’s not about coaching a game. It’s about, ‘How do I help these young people be the best version of themselves when they leave here even though my stuff is dictated on wins and losses, not my relationships.’”
Head coach Shereka Wright crosses her arms during a game against Abilene Christian University on March 13 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. UTA was down 23 points after the third quarter.
Senior guard Kali Haizlip shared the sentiment, embraced her head coach and said Wright was one of the main reasons she stuck around for three years, happy to do it regardless of the outcomes or how much playtime she got. Wright has been the blueprint for greatness and Black excellence in her eyes, Haizlip said.
“I stayed and I worked at it, and not only did I play, but I also have more opportunities than I would have had, had it not been for Coach Shereka,” Haizlip said. “She’s one of the best coaches I played for, and I’m really appreciative of her.”
One of UTA’s difficulties was dealing with Abilene Christian junior guard Payton Hull, who was recently named WAC Player of the Year. She showcased why she is the league’s best, posting 21 points, mostly earned in the first half, and added two rebounds, three assists and four steals.
Freshman forward Kira Reynolds drives up to shoot the ball during a game against Abilene Christian University on March 13 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Reynolds scored eight points.
UTA came out fast, with 10 buckets being posted collectively by freshman forward Kira Reynolds and sophomore guard Kendal Robinson within the first four minutes. Abilene Christian had Kira Reynolds on watch, doubling up on the freshman and allowing her to add only two additional points throughout the rest of the game.
UTA’s aggression spilled over in the second quarter, at times to a fault. Multiple possessions were handed over to the Wildcats, who capitalized on the steals to extend their lead and keep the Lady Mavericks scoreless for more than four minutes.
Senior guard Nya Threatt ended the slump with one of two made free throws, along with a handful of layups by redshirt junior forward Mila Reynolds. Unfavorable fouls and calls on the Lady Mavericks brought the team to a boil, trailing the Wildcats by 20 with three minutes left in the second quarter.
A 3-pointer from Haizlip ignited UTA, but Abilene Christian responded with its own shot from range to nullify the comeback. The half ended with UTA down 41-26 after two successful free throws from redshirt sophomore guard Erin Sellers.
UTA Athletics director Jon Fagg low-fives players as they walk off the court after a game against Abilene Christian University on March 13 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. UTA lost 70-50.
The third quarter saw some of UTA’s worst shooting during the tournament; the team was unable to break double digits at seven points while Abilene Christian extended its lead. Sellers broke out briefly in the fourth quarter, but the wounds inflicted early on were too grave to repair.
Rather than dwelling on the mistakes upon finishing her final stop as a Lady Maverick, Threatt acknowledged the support that her bench and coaching staff have displayed since day one.
“When you got a coaching staff and people behind you that’s willing to ride for you, that’s there to support you whenever you need, that’s big, especially as a student athlete,” Threatt said. “It’s so much that goes on into this, and then you dealing with mental, outside stuff, but having them really alleviates all of that. It’s just a pressure release.”
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